Learning to snowboard

This past weekend we went to this small ski hill to learn to snowboard. The kids have been skiing for a number of years with their dad. But he would never allow them the chance to learn the art of the snowboard. It takes much more talent and skill to balance on the edge of this board while propelling yourself down a steep decline. And thanks to a very talented snowboarder of 23 years, my children got 1on1 attention. To see the joy on their faces as they accomplish something for the first time........Do you remember the joy it brings to see your children learn to do something for the first time?? I could have cried all night. I am so very proud of them both!! Thank you Travis for being so talented, gracious, and patient.

Selamnesh loved eating the fresh snow!!

Winter park

What a great time to share some family LOVE!!!!


On a wonderful warm winter day we went to a park that has a little zoo. We didn't see much but had a great time!!! We fed some Mountain Goats, saw a Bobcat, an very tame, wild bunny and a lot of empty cages. Selamnesh liked being pulled in the sled more than feeding animals.

My Baby has her Driver's License

Look a this little Gril All Grown up!!!!

Sweet 16

Sixteen Years ago on a very icy, early morning I gave birth to the most beautiful baby girl. And this week we celebrated her 16th birthday!! Friday we had a sweet 16 party at a dry nightclub. It was a great time and and great time had by all. All night I kept asking Lauren, Are you having a good time? She would smile and say yes. Mid-evening she asked me, Mom are you having a good time? I started to cry. Yes, if you are happy, I'm having a great time!! Isn't that just it??? When we see out babies having a wonderful time, it makes our evening wonderful...... Lauren has a great group of friends, half from school, and half from church. And then there is Marty.... gosh I love that guy, and he is good for her. NO not a boyfriend. Lauren isn't allowed to have one of "those". But a great guy who keeps her compass north.

Happy Birthday Baby!!! I love you so very much!!!!

Other updates.........

I have been asked today what other updates I have on my baby girl........

She has changed so much!! And keeps me running!!!!

She took her first steps the day after Christmas. Since as of today is taking 6 little shuffle steps. That might span 2 feet. Huge for a little girl that was dragging her left leg behind when she tried to crawl just 3 1/2 months ago.

She now calls me "Ma ma" loudly from across the room.

How many times is too many to tell your baby that you love them..... Last night as I held her in my arms, I looked into her eyes and said I love you. she replied.... Aaa lub ooo. I wept.

She calls Lauren Sisis when asked to say Sissy.

Tristan we call Bro, and it comes out like Bo.

She will try to repeat anything you say.

She loves to climb the stairs, and is just getting the hang of going down.

Doing work at my desk is a disaster....she grabs every file folder and it's quickly flung on the floor.

She will sit in the exersaucer for about 15 minutes while I'm running on the treadmill.

She loves playing with her kitchen set.

Bizunish would be proud, I sure am.............

Dr. Visit

We went to the Dr. and they did all the blood tests. I was really nerveous..... Is she healthy?? Does she have Malaria again?? She didn't have fevers before and she had Malaria. She hasn't run a fever since we met. Have her liver functions spiked again?? We had her portraits taken the day before we were admitted to Children's Hospital. She looks healthy, but she did before. I sat across from Dr. Kellner, and he told me that I might doubt him. Have I ever said how much I love this Dr.??? He is so awesome!!!!!!!! But he said..... Anna if her tests come back normal, I won't need to see you until her 24 month appt. I cried...How can I trust in God, but still have fear my baby is going to get sick again?? How can I trust Drs. that can't tell me what she had or if it will ever come back?? We tested her blood every 3 days, then twice a week, then once a week, then twice a month, now once a month. And now you tell me that we will go 4 months without testing her blood??? I have to trust him, I have to trust Him. God almighty!! This is no suprise to Him. Lord God, you gave me this Baby girl to take care of. She is yours.

Selamnesh is now 21# and 30 inches long. She has gone from 6-9 month clothes to 18 month clothes in 2 months. I can hardly change her closet in time. She is the best dressed little girl all thanks to Once Upon a Child.

She had to have 2 shots, and then the blood draw. I actually helped to hold her down for the first time. My heart ached!!!! A few hours later Dr. Kellner called me on my cellphone. Have I said how much I love this Dr.??? He has called me while on vacation, on a Saturday...... He said all of her blood levels are normal!!!!!

Merry Christmas from our family to yours

We would like to wish everyone who reads these words a very Merry Christmas and my Jesus Christ Bless you as He has Blessed our family this year.

This year has been one blessing after another. The very unexpected referal of Selamnesh. A wonderful summer of enjoying my two older children in a season of lasts, just the 3 of us. Our eye opening trip to Ethiopia to visit the birth country of my 3rd child Selamnesh. Tristan would like to remind everyone that this was not a vacation. This was a mission trip. The mission was getting to know the people of Ethiopia. Picture taking was not like taking pictures at Disney World, but remembering for Selamnesh for the rest of her life. Meeting Bizunesh, Selamnesh's birth mother. I respect this woman so much. In our country most women who deside to make a plan for their unborn child, including adoption for reasons such as.....I can't afford a child, wanting to go to college, having too many children, I want to finish high school, or just don't want the responsibility. Bizunesh never went to school, gave her first born child to me, would have loved the responsibility, and couldn't afford a child.......Look at what we have and we say we can't afford things. Bizunesh didn't have cable, a tv, electricity, a cellphone, a home phone, a house, an apartment, eating out, hanging out with friends....... For Bizunesh it was a very different life.(Don't misunderstand me. I think that every young woman that finds herself in an unexpected pregnacy, her best choice is to place that child up for adoption. You don't realize how long some people wait wanting to have a child. How they would care for that child as if they gave birth to it themselves. How much BETTER of a life that child would have.) I'm only making the comparison between lives. Bizunesh and Mary, Jesus's mother had a much closer comparison than any of us in the states can imagine. Being an un-wed pregnant woman could have gotten Mary killed or disowned. So is the story with Bizunesh. We think nothing of an un-wed pregnant woman. That isn't the case in Southern Ethiopia. We have a poster size picture of our family with Bizunesh in the middle hanging above our couch in our family room. We remind Selamnesh every day who Bizunesh is and how much she loves her. When I look at Bizunesh I feel I am looking at Jesus's mother. When Mary had baby Jesus, she didn't know how He would Save the world. When Bizunesh had Selamnesh she didn't know how she would change the world. Soon after getting our baby girl home she had complete liver shut down. We didn't know if she was going to make it. But God Blessed us, by listening to the plee's of so many of you. He healed her completely. And friends who sat with me in the hospital for a whole week!! I am Blessed!! As an update, they still don't know what caused it, or how she got better. But we know!! Since going back to work after being off for a few weeks after our homecoming. Business has been WAY down. This last year hasn't been real good in my territory. And since going back to work the media keeps reminding people of how broke we are!!!!! I work in sales. I don't sell, I don't make money. Bottom line!! I can drive 3 hours to go to 3 appointments and not make a dollar. And I have to pay my gas to get there!! I have had weeks I owed the company money, and weeks I had a deposit of $58. But God continues to Bless us in other ways. Our angel Jill who made sure that our family had a wonderful Christmas. The children were very suprised!!!! I can not thank you enough!! We are so Blessed!! God has never forgotten us and His Word says He NEVER will!!

May the Love of Jesus Bless your families as He has Blessed Ours.